Here are some basic chat room rules of proper etiquette that will help your chat room experiences be more pleasant for you as well as the others in the room.

This is probably the most important rule. Do not verbally abuse, attack, embarrass, or threaten anyone else in the chat room, no matter what they might say to you. You are bound to find some troublemakers on the Internet. But, the best way to deal with them is to just ignore them or simply leave the room.

Do not use obscene, offensive, or rude language. You don't need to use this kind of language in order to speak to someone or to get your point across to others.

Never type your messages in by using all capital letters. On the Internet, this is considered to be screaming or yelling at another person, and, of course, this is nothing short of rude. If you want to *emphasize* a word or phrase, simply type an asterisk in before and then directly after your word or phrase. This is a widely recognized way to get your point across without being rude.

When you are entering a chat room, you should always greet everyone whether you know them or not. Be sure to wait until there is a lull in the conversation already in progress, though. Don't interrupt. And, when someone else enters the room, you should make it a point to at least recognize their presence and greet them with a friendly "Hi (their screen name)!"

Don't speak unless you know what the conversation is about first. And, in speaking while in a chat room, don't type in long, detailed messages that will take alot of time and space. Also, never interrrupt someone else. Be patient; you will get your chance to speak.